But time is a relative thing. And, as Robert Lamm wrote and the band Chicago sang, “Does anybody really know what time it is?”

Well, the opening of the Tesla Gallery in New York caused a ripple in time.

Over two-dozen East Coast Tesla Roadster owners met in New York City on a sunny Sunday in October. Some came almost 180 miles, ostensibly to take a drive, enjoy like company, and some free food.

We got that and so much more!

On this quiet Sunday morning, I picked up my cousin’s son in front of the Chrysler building. With little traffic on Lexington Avenue, the seemingly diminutive Roadster, framed in the giant arches of the building, foreshadowed the day’s events.

We arrived at the new Tesla facility in Chelsea, joined by several other Tesla enthusiasts. We compared serial numbers, options, and colors.

And did we have colors! The Roadsters arrived two or three at a time. Within thirty minutes we had a rich palette of Roadsters lining the otherwise deserted street.

It was getting exciting.

We received maps and instructions to follow two well-marked lead Roadsters, and off we sped.

Any local New Yorker can tell you that a Sunday in the city is surreal. Spaces designed to accommodate millions during a busy weekday lay empty. Traffic lights change from green to yellow to red, but no cars pass. Walk signs direct imaginary pedestrians. We snaked our way through the serpentine streets of lower Manhattan and used the West Side Highway to reach Columbia University.

As two-dozen performance sports cars “roared” up West Side Highway, one could not help but notice the absence of noise. Of course, it wasn’t absolutely silent, but the traditional roar of an internal combustion engine was replaced by more natural and aerodynamic sounds. My cousins’ son, Frank, commented on his ability “to hear the sound of the city as we drove around.”

Those of you familiar with West Side Highway realize it is but a shadow of its former self. Contending with a dearth of markers and multitude of traffic lights, our group found several creative paths to our destination. We arrived at the tree-lined, quiet campus in twos and threes.

We parked on both sides of the street to enjoy the scenery and welcome the arrival of our new-found friends.

Passersby constantly asked about the Roadster and the future of electric cars.

Driving a Tesla instantly makes you an ambassador for the electric car industry and the future of automobile travel! Tesla owners know that owning a Tesla is a transformational event in a lifetime. The owner is expected to know all sorts of details about the Roadster AND all other plug-in hybrid choices. How you drive your Roadster affects opinions of who Roadster buyers are and what type of individuals they might be. Onlookers with probing questions anticipate fluent and insightful answers from the owner – the questions typically cover the future, mileage, KWH, energy types and storage, and even software!

At owner events, the magic hits you. When Roadsters fill your view and you can’t find a tail pipe to save your life, you get the overwhelming feeling you are driving the future.

It’s the realization that this is our future!

The same trees and streets will be here ten or twenty years from now and these cars will fit right in.

Driving south past New York’s beautiful Central Park, the feeling persists. This is the future where we all drive electric cars and where the electric grid is capable of transporting electricity with greater capacity and efficiency; a future where only a few Historic Vehicles (HVs?), with special permits, noisily emit hydrocarbons as they move through the grid of streets.

Driving HVs will need to be well-planned to ensure a fuel supply from sparsely available petroleum. Gas will only be available by special permit at stations that ration fuel for collectors and hobbyists. Electricity is available for a slight surcharge on the parking meter and is supplied inductively to our cars.

Back in the moment, I realize that we are some of the fortunate few who get to live in the future that Tesla, led by Elon Musk, has infused in our cars.

Thanks to Tesla New York for coordinating the First Annual New York Tesla Rally, providing great food and getting the local owners together. Even though the Northeast is still covered in snow, I know all of you fellow Roadster owners can’t wait for a Spring drive!

At the time when Historic Vehicles, as you put it, are rare enough for that they can be called Historic Vehicles, necessary petroleum can be synthesized from renewable sources. No need to use fossil fuels then.

Future is almost here. Unlimited energy in form of clean fusion, solar, wind, geothermal and other renewables, EV is dominant form of automobiles, space exploration is started using space elevator and continued by fusion/solar & ion thrusters, Mars is only months away, Moon is days away. Diseases are gone, cybernetics start to get commonplace, first by fixing injured or weakened bodyparts (artificial joints, artificial heart, hearing aids, eyes fixed by artificial lenses etc. are already here), maybe later even genetic manipulation of our young to get rid of natural defects for good (poor eyesight and hearing and inheritable diseases would be first to go).

No more pollution. Clean air everywhere.

All we need to do then is get rid of human stupidity. Unnecessary exploitation of nature (Japan whaling for example), stupid religious fanatics (anywhere and in every religion), racism, exploitation of weak "because you can do it". Warmongery. Organized crime. Simple trashing. Poor education of some people by stupid government or traditions.

In that area unfortunately we as people are still far from being civilized unit. People are stupid. Many are no more than puppets controlled by selfish and/or stupid leader-types. As I often remind myself "average IQ is only 100" (which obviously is always true by definition, but as it is now that 100 is way too low).

BEV is a start of this bright future. This "Tesla experiment" shows that there is a will and people are ready for change. Someone once said that "person is smart, people are stupid". There is a will and understanding buried down there, we only need to dig it up. Give them a better choice and they get it.

vito buccina

7:41am | Mars 15, 2010

Are there any Model S autos at shows or in show rooms to see. I'm very interested in an electric car but would feel more comfortable if I could see or touch a unit. I live in Syracuse NY. I believe the nearest dealership is NYC or Canada.

The Model S is what I would be interested in because of family size. Also when I downloaded the Spec Sheet and only received two pictures. I was hope to get design, options cost, ..... etc.

Tim, the joke is on EXXON-Mobil and their ilk. Those rally drivers got home the same way they got to New York
-- without burning any gasoline.

Timo

12:13pm | Mars 15, 2010

vito buccina; Type S is at the prototype-stage currently. No actual Type S exist yet, only prototype of what it might be. That is why there is no real info about it, and why it isn't in stores anywhere. Everything in that car is subject of change. I believe that only hull of the car is somewhat fixed, and final product will look like the pictures in here.

Of course with Roadster drivetrain you could get a pretty good picture about what that car can do, but interior design and stuff like that are in constant motion. So no info. No Type S in these kind of events. No Type S in shops.

Not yet.

SM Hammond

1:45pm | Mars 15, 2010

Thanks for the info on the Type S. Does anyone know when the launch is? I am awaiting!

I've wanted a Tesla forever but one thing I liked about my Porsche boxter was the cargo space. I like a sports car with enough space to go away for a weekend. The rear and front trunk in the Porsche provided enough luggage space for a weekend get-a-way with my wife. If the Tesla has similar cargo space then I think that would satisfy my last remaining reservation and make it the most perfect car currently in existence. Can any customer's comment? Post a picture perhaps?

- one other thing. I suspect we will see breakthroughs in battery technology over the coming years. Wouldn't it be cool if you could upgrade your Tesla with more powerful and/or longer range and/or smaller batteries instead of having to buy a new car; also, it would make the car even more eco-friendly and justifiable as a long-term investment. Does anybody know if this is something Tesla engineers have contemplated or maybe it is already part of the plan?

I am happy that Tesla appears to be doing well - what an awesome concept. Making electric sexy is what will crack the mass market. I've been a fan since day one.

Ron

10:17pm | Mars 21, 2010

Hi,

I used to own a nice Audi A4 red, with navigator, manual transmission. I was making plans to buy the A5, but after I saw the Tesla Model S upcoming car, I realized that my dream car was a Tesla. Superb taste. If I end up buying the Model S, I want it in brilliant red, with door handles in red and all those chrome parts in red too. I will put a spoiler... and then I will feel I will have the most attractive car which ever existed. More than a gas sucker Ferrari which costs $400K but pumps pollution in the air like crazy.

I can't afford a Roadster but I have to tell you that when comparing a Roadster against a Porsche or even the Audi R8, the Roadster becomes an appealing product. I see the comment from a reader regarding limited cargo space in the Roadster (I am wondering whether people could somehow install an accessory on the back of the car to transport more stuff?).

Brian H

3:07am | Avr. 10, 2010

Sorry, Ron. The Roadster carries 2 people, no stuff. ;)

You'll just have to make do with the Model S. But I gather it will have longer range and 5 mph higher top end! So the Roadsters will out-drag you, but you'll get 'em on the straightaways ...